Whatever your views are on dog diets in general, I think it’s safe to say that your dog will ingest at least one human food at some point in time — either with your knowledge (as a regular diet, or as table scraps or dog treats) or without your knowledge (maybe from the garbage, or given to your pet by someone else).

This begs the question:

Which human foods are safe for dogs to eat?

Furthermore:

What do I need to know if I decide to give my dog foods that were originally intended for people?

Here’s what I’ve learned:

You should always consult with a veterinarian before introducing your dog to any new food item.

That said, following are the best tips I’ve found with regard to feeding human foods to dogs…

Be Careful What You Feed Your Dog

Not all dogs are alike.

Just because someone else’s dog didn’t have an adverse reaction to a particular human food doesn’t mean that your pet will behave the same way. Your dog could react differently to the taste of the food, or he could even have an allergy to one or more of its ingredients.

Therefore, whenever you are introducing your dog to a new food (or combination of foods, such as those in Kong recipes be sure to test it out while you are home so you can monitor your pet’s reaction.

The odds are very small, but there’s always the chance that your dog could be allergic to a particular food, or it just may not sit well with your dog — causing upset stomach, diarrhea or vomiting. Sometimes, even the smallest change in a dog’s diet can cause an adverse reaction.

Also, when introducing people food to your dog, start slow. A dog’s digestive system is different from a human’s and it doesn’t do well with sudden changes — like switching from all a standard diet of dog kibble to a diet that includes some human food. (Here are some tips for determining human food portion sizes for dogs.)

Okay, now onto the specific human foods which are safe for dogs and which ones are not…

Human Foods That Are NOT Safe For Dogs

Following are all of the foods and edible items that are potentially dangerous to dogs (along with links to the sources which cite those items as being harmful and why).

TIP: At the very least, you should avoid feeding your dog human foods that are salty, sweet (high in sugar content), or fatty.

These human foods should not be given to dogs — especially in large amounts:

IMPORTANT: If you suspect that your dog has eaten something that was bad for him or become poisoned, contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. This is a 24-hour a day hotline that operates 7 days a week 365 days a year. (They charge a nominal fee to your credit card for the immediate response and expert advice that could ultimately save your dog’s life.)

Human Foods That ARE Safe For Dogs

The good news: There are many people foods that are safe for dogs to eat!

A Word Of Advice About Trying New Foods

Before you introduce a new food to your dog, there’s one other thing that you should take into consideration: the “begging” factor!

In our household, we’ve noticed that our dogs tend to beg for people foods any time they smell something they’re familiar with. On the other hand, if they’ve never tasted it before, then they don’t beg for it.

For that reason, we have only introduced 2 human food items to our dogs: peanut butter and bread.

They get those on a fairly regular basis as treats — usually mixed in with regular dog kibble in their Kong toys. When it comes to filling Kongs, we layer ingredients inside the Kong toy using various combinations of those 2 human foods and other store-bought dog foods, treats, and Kong-friendly products made specifically for dogs.

To give you an example, any time we crack open a jar of peanut butter (…wait, I mean move the peanut butter jar from the pantry to the counter!) or open a loaf of bread, our dogs start salivating and licking their lips in anticipation of getting some. Yet we can hold a big ‘ol steak in front of them, and they don’t blink an eye!

So just remember, once you introduce a particular food to your dog, there’s no going back. They’ll always want some of yours whenever you’re eating that food in the future.

We’ve also reserved a handful of other human foods for times when our dogs have various ailments (like diarrhea) or need to take pills. Those foods are: rice, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, and plain yogurt. They make the process of giving pills so much easier. However, yes, our dogs do tend to beg for them now when we’re eating them ourselves. So be careful about which foods you use to associate your dog with a good experience!

I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money -- so I frequently write about "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed several years until switching gears to pursue things I was more passionate about. I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo -- to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).

Kristina – Here’s the scoop on SPINACH: “Because a dog has a much shorter digestive track than a human, Spinach should be juiced or finely chopped before feeding it to your dog. Chopping or processing will ensure better digestion and absorption of nutrients. A healthy dog can be given a small amount of Spinach once per week. Since spinach is high in oxalates, dogs with bladder stones should not eat spinach.” Source–> Here’s a dog spinach recipeRegarding BEETS, it’s fine for dogs to eat beets (in moderation). Just remember, “beware what goes in red on one end will come out the other end a similar color.” Source==> Here’s a dog beets recipeAnd CABBAGE:”When feeding vegetables…some can cause diarrhea and gas (especially broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, many root veggies, etc)”… so again, moderation is the key. And the more chopped up, the better. Source ==> Here’s a dog cabbage recipe

bed1994

FYI people with boxers!!! The best thing I have found for our boxers “farts” so they don’t stink is Yogurt… They still fart but do NOT smell real bad and are a lot more tolerable then with out Yogurt. We put it on his food every night and it works wonders. You should experiment how much to use. (Took us about a month to figure out just the right amount.)

Great post. I once fed my boxer crab and learned that he was highly allergic when he came up to me an hour later with bumps all over his face and body. A little Benadryl cleared it up promptly.

ntay

my dog is depressed and won’t eat his food. what can i feed him?

Mira

I add a bit of plain yogurt to my dogs food when they aren’t interested. Be sure you check ingredients of the yogurt, some are full of starches and such.

KaD

A number of nice things can help pick up your dogs interest in food. Try adding a little bit of olive oil ( Also help his coat stay glossy, and good for general dry skin and itch) Plain white yogurt, unsweetened. (Also helps gassy dogs, and dogs with yeast problems in their ears or on their coats) Unsalted, natural broth makes a little gravy in their dry food. (Also you can put a few teaspoons of broth into a dogs water if they are sick and you’re worried they may not be taking in enough water.) Canned green beans may grab his attention, sugar snap peas, fresh apples, or broccoli… Beef scraps from your dinner, no cooked bones, or if he’s really truly depressed, you may want to make sure he’s getting enough exercise. He may just need some time to go out and play, get some sun, and work up an appetite.

claudia

what is somthing that is supa simple to feed my pup from human food only (as a treet)

fat dog owner

My dog begs for every human food. He just knows what it means when we have a plate or bowl, knows the sound of silverware moving, etc. It doesn’t matter if he has had the food or not, hes learned my human eating habits, he wants to try a bite of everything.

Therefore, I’d have to say the statement that giving them the food in the first place is what makes them beg for it later on; is incorrect.

Maria

My dog is on a diet and loosing weight. My vet said she needs more fiber to feel full BUT low cals because my dog still feels very hungry. Shes been on a diet for the last 6 months. Can I feed her quaker oatmeal? Thanks

Maria – Yes. Preferably plain/original oatmeal (instead of those pre-flavored packets). Plain oatmeal is good for a dog’s sensitive stomach.

Krista and Maya

Is bread bad for dogs or tortillas? Please reply to [email protected] if you find out the answer. Thanks.

CelisticMarion

Is the list you have at the bottom of the page of the foods god for dogs? The list has cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, plain yogurt and rice. Are these okay for dogs?

CelisticMarion

Alana, I suggest making dinners for your dogs. I do it sometimes as a treat for mine and they love it. I make some brown rice, cook some organic chicken(it has to be plain everything, no salt or spices) then I add some carrots and peas. I cook the chicken till it is done add it to the rice add the peas and carrots then give it to my dogs. They love it and I have noticed that they have more energy and a healthier coat. If you want her to eat dog food add a little in with the meal, plus add a little chicken broth. Eventually you can work all of the rice and chicken and veggies out and just feed her the dog food with chicken broth. Good luck!! =]

gery

can dogs eat salmon?

Kaitlyn H, LVT

As long as it is cooked, absolutely!

fifsfughufhwd

How do you know a dog is allergic to something?

Snicks

A food allergy heats the blood which makes them very itchy. A dog that constantly scratches the face, feet, ears, forelegs, armpits and the area around the anus are probably allergic to something if it be contact, mites or food. Best bet is to take the dog to the vet if he/she starts scratching more than normal.

I think apples are crack for dogs! 🙂 My dogs are addicted to apple and carrot

Lindalein

My dog doesn’t eat at all and he can play all day long…what is good for him? Help

Clockha1

In the Caribbean our dogs eat every and everything we eat and they live long healthy lives. Leftovers are mixed with dogchow, some dogs eat fruits(mangoes) and vegetables.

Hi

this is helpful, but our dog gets hotspots, and we don’t know if it has to do with her food. is it?

Xeanbean

I have a toy poodle she is brown and 2 years old i feed her egg sometimes but mostly chicken, rice, carrets and I microwave it with the plastic rap on it. Is this bad for my dog? Okay mayby shes not my dog but she is my friends.

Sparkle_98

I have a toy poodle she is brown and 2 years old i feed her egg sometimes but mostly chicken, rice, carrets and I microwave it with the plastic rap on it. Is this bad for my dog? Okay mayby shes not my dog but she is my friends.

Zara4

Good one! I learned Lots! 🙂 🙂 😐 🙂

Blt4awl2c

All you idiots who give a DOG any kind of food other then DOG food, grab a can of Alpo,a forlk,and DIG IN!!! Dog=dog food-People=people food-Cat=cat food….see a pattern here?

Jansenss04

Canned dog food hasn’t been around for centurys…. how did dog’s eat before alpo

Wolf-Man

Shut up biscuit sucker! It is perfectly fine to give your dog “human food”, as long as you avoid the toxic ones. My great grandparents had a dog who only ate normal food, and that dog had a healthy life which lasted for 15 long years! Which is also much longer than any dog YOU ever raised i wager.

Mybrowndog62

I have had dogs for over 40 years and they all ate table scraps. My last chocolate lab who was fed generic dog food supplemented with scraps lived to be 18 and I finally had to let her go due to really bad hips. I think that as long as you stay away from the “toxic” people food that is the way to go. That way you don’t waste people food and the dog is happy. All of my dogs have lived to be 16 or older on that diet.

Barbara-Jean

An opinion is one thing, derogatory(not sure if this spelling is correct) comments are an entirely different story. Please people, are there not enough negative things out there that we have to endure the negativity on a site that is supposed to be informative and helpful. Just sayin. Hope you all have a wonderfully pleasant evening.

Lori

Are you kidding? I’m a veterinarian and my healthy 12 yr old dogs have eaten what I eat since they were puppies. They snack on dog food if they want to eat in between our meals. Are you saying manufactured dog food has been around since the domestication of dogs?

Jason28leo

My roommate feeds his dog human foods and because of this, anytime he sits down to eat, his dog constintly stares at him , licking his chops , while he is eating and it drives me crazy that he lets this behavior go on. Is this a bad behavior for the dog? My roommate says ” he’s not begging, he’s just looking at me.” and “he isnt doing anything wrong.” But I beg to differ. I was always taught that dogs only eat dogfood and they should always be corrected if they beg while humans eat. So, my question is, Is it bad behavior for the dog to sit and stare at my roommate while he eats?

I think the correct answer here is: it depends. It’s only bad behavior if the parties involved don’t approve of the dog’s behavior. In reality, your friend and his dog could live a long happy life together doing this sort of thing. So — for them — it’s not bad behavior. They have adapted to a new normal, so to speak. But if your friend happened to not like the dog staring at him all the time when he’s eating, then yes, it would be considered bad behavior and the dog owner should take steps to modify that behavior. The fact that your friend doesn’t respect that you’re uncomfortable with the dog’s behavior at the dinner table… well that’s a different issue. Some might consider it rude. On the other hand, it’s his dog so he can do what he wants as long as the dog’s not physically hurting anybody. To be fair to all involved, since it’s partly your house too, I think you and he should try to come up with a “new normal” that satisfies you both 😀

NB mom

I am having issues with my 5 year old black lab….she is grabbing the food on the counter for the past 4 days now. I was out of the country for a week and she was with my boyfriend whom she’s been with from day 1. Every time she sees me out the door the past 4 days, she would grab whatever and eat it. What should I do????

Sheila

my dog is a picky eater and he is very skinny. he is a long haired chiuahua and maltese mix. it scares me how picky he is. if i feed him dry food he nibbles here and there. i mean the same bowl will sit there for days. wet food messes with his digestive system(if you know what i mean) i do not eat meat but i heard bacon is okay to fatten him up but what can i do every day to put meat on his bones?

Gosh Sheila, That’s really a question for your vet. I say that because longerm periods of not eating often signify something bad going on inside. If it were me, I would definitely get my vet’s opinion before I started trying different things myself.

Consider getting a few “real” bones from the butcher — they have small pieces of raw meat on them. I give one to my dog every month or so & he loves it. (He’s only allowed to eat them ON a towel, ON our deck outside.) We like the longer femur bones the best — because a dog can get the bone marrow from both ends AND strip all the little bits of meat off the bone itself. Plus it’s great for their teeth. These bones don’t splinter — just make sure you get bones that are MUCH bigger than your dog’s mouth size (like the femurs).

Don’t forget to at least CALL your vet for a professional opinion though…

That is terrible advice. Those femur bones are known to crack teeth and are not edible. Raw beef or pork ribs, raw chicken drumsticks, thighs and necks, etc are good for dogs. Weight bearing bones ARE NOT. Ever see what’s left of a deer carcass after the coyotes are done with it? Pretty much just weight bearing bones.

Ernest – It depends on your dog’s weight and the amount of chocolate and your dog’s own ability to process chocolate. All dogs are different. Watch for signs of diarrhea and/or vomiting and/or behavior change. If you notice any of the above, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Takel Merriweather2011

My mother has a dog and she rads a lot about them. She said that chocolate is like poison to a dog. If she is still acting ok and normal with the eating then nothing shouldnt happen to her. Just make sure that she is actin like herself.

Sweetpeach4444

I am shocked that you would recommend Cheese Whiz for dogs. It has artificial color, corn syrup, sugar, salt,preservatives, and garlic powder. These ingredients are BAD for dogs.

Kathy6325

I have to give my dog a liquid medicine for seizures. What is the best way to do this besides holding him down. What kind of food is the liquid safe to hide in?

Kathy6325 – I usually give liquid meds to my dog mixed in with cottage cheese. Applesauce is also good. And plain yogurt too. One time I just used some leftover chicken noodle soup broth… mixed in the liquid meds… and poured that over a very small helping of his dry dog food (to ensure that he’d eat it all in one sitting).

missy

do dog allow to eat piece of tortilla?

chris

My dog eats people food all day and never has a problem. Hes both happy and healthy, in fact he just ate a stoffers flatbread pizza just now. It seems like people go overkill on what you can and cannot give your dog. Trust me when I say that dogs left unchecked will eat alot worse things that pizza or PBand Js like poop and grass with poop on it or any variation thereof. Dogs are dogs dont treat them like homosexual children.

disqus_fU6rSwdtZk

can my dog eat a rock?

Mark San

yea cause dog food springs out the earth like flowers and plants, dog food is made with human food lol. IDK since when everyone seems to have a leash up there ass about feeding there dog human food…. if they were never domesticated they would be out there eating what we eat and cook raw lol. Stop being dumb and give your dog table scraps if he deserves it. Nothing wrong with some rice and chicken after a nice swim and run. Dont give it chocolate obviously and other harmful food (research them) but come on…. this is crazy lol

I have a terrier with extreme skin allergies. I have tried everything. Lamb and rice, chicken absolutely nothing in the bad category. Do you have any other suggestions? He has to get steriod shots and I know it is shortening his life.

Your list has several contradictions therefore I would consider it as a
GUIDE LINE only. For best results ALWAYS ask your veterinarian. My dog
is on the raw foods diet and has been for years. She has never been
healthier. What did dogs do before humans processed the heck out of the
foods and turned them into tiny kibble that their teeth are NOT designed
to masticate?

P.S. One of the TOP selling all natural dogs
foods brands uses Avocados as a main ingredient. It’s called AvoDerm and
it’s slogan is “a miracle in every bag” True.

My dogs typically only get a well balanced dog food, however, I do use human food as treats. Their favorite treat is Broccoli, They also like fresh greenbeans.. I keep them both in the fridge to use as treats. They are nonfat and a healthy snack for treats. Also, when they are not feeling well and having tummy issues I will cook rice in a chicken broth and feet that to them. It seems to help settle the tummy. I think dogs need veggies to have a healthy, balanced diet.

Looks like dogs need to be vegetarians according to this list! And only
COOKED turkey and chicken with no bones or skin? Are you kidding?
Dogs are domesticated WOLVES! They’re animals with instincts to forage
and kill for their food. I doubt seriously you’d see a pack of dogs in
the wild choose to dig up and eat raw carrots if there was a chicken
coop close by.

I give my dog meat scraps and fat from my table
mixed with dry food and when I have leftover melted bacon fat I will
pour that over her food as well. Occasionally I will give her a raw egg
mixed with milk and a pinch of sugar. She loves cooked carrots…those
that have been roasting with the chicken whose skin I also give her.
Oh…and pork rinds make a lovely treat for dogs instead of those
expensive ‘treats’ that have zero nutrition. My Polly is 13 years old,
trim, and has NO gray hair on her snout…she likes her daily
walk…demands it really… and only goes to the vet for her annual
shots. According to statistics for her breeds ( Collie/Goldie mix) she
should have been dead 3 years ago–or at least living on borrowed time.
Her coat is shiny and super thick and she has no skin issues. As long
as she is happy and healthy I will continue to feed her this way and
follow nature’s advice…not ‘experts’.

Our Dachshund is 14.5 yrs old and has liver issue and not wanting to eat so her vet has said feed her anything she will eat so I cook for her. She gets chicken and rice, pumpkin puree, yogurt, pureed carrots, cottage cheese, cheese of any kind and bread for treats. I think the only thing helping her keep weight on is the bread. She thinks its the best thing in the world and anything that will keep her with me a little longer I will give her! She has never been a big eater and didn’t have any fat on her body which isn’t normal for a Dachshund we’ve had seven of them and she’s the only one who hasn’t gobbled anything put in front of her.

I will say neither of our doxie’s will eat anything if they think a pill is in it. If they see a pill bottle you can forget the treat its over!

My dogs have stolen whole bags of chocolate before and they are still fine. I mean, sure, some dogs can’t eat it and it’s probably not the best thing for them if they eat it continually. Obviously that can be bad. But it’s the same for us. Oh, and I don’t know about how bad it is for egg yokes and whites (even though my dogs have eaten them) but egg shells are actually good for your dogs. They make a dogs fur healthier and softer.

Holly

You must have gotten lucky, as human chocolate contains theobromine in it, which is the part of chocolate that makes it supposedly deadly to dogs. As little as 7.5gm of chocolate can be deadly to a dog.

I have two springer spaniels, they love the RAW. Its so much healthy for them and they enjoy. best thing to do is really read up on portions and and never feed raw and then regular food. it process faster then the raw. My girls never have problems ie infections, allergies, and has clean teeth and weight is right on track. they are spoiled, I do cut up they meat but hey!!! its worthy. even raw eggs… one of my girls begs when I make breakfast. do your homework. its amazing how big a differ it is. I have had dogs all my life, this beats anything

Great info, Teresa! That article is filled with lots of helpful tips 😀

lynne

My 4 month old Shih Tzu loves carrots, green beans, apples and her most favorite treat peanut butter. Is it OK to break off a corner of the same seeded bread that I eat and put a little peanut butter on as a treat. She’s a very active little girl and is always hungry even though she eats three regular – measured meals a day. Treats are fillers for her.

This list is misleading. Even by your own sources, fish and liver are good for dogs.as long as it’s not the dogs daily diet. My dog is on a raw diet and generally eats a whole fish once a week and organs (liver, tripe, kidney) once a week and he usually gets a little of whatever I have for dinner every night. You should take these things that are healthy for dogs off the list and replace them with “foods” such as Iams, Ol’ Roy, Kibbles and Bits, Pedigree, etc. Coyotes, wolves, and other wild dogs don’t raid corn and wheat fields looking for food, they raid chicken coops and lamb pastures. So why do people insist on feeding their dogs meat flavored corn kibbles?

What doesn’t make sense to me is the fact that they say liver shouldn’t be given and yet on the list of things you can give your animal it states that you can give organ meat which they have liver listed. I am not too confident in this list – yes there are things on here that I know can and can’t be given due to researching myself. I do a raw food diet and you can give raw chicken with the fat plus raw eggs … do you honestly think that the dogs in the wild have their food cooked for them??? My dog has never been healthier and more satisfied with a raw food diet. He sheds less (he is a Lab) – his weight is healthy – when I fed him a diet with a really good supposably healthy dog food – he constantly was searching for more food the moment he got done with eating. Now on his raw food diet – he never begs or searches for more food. He actually eats until he is full which supposably dogs don’t know how to do that and are always wanting to eat. Dog foods have so much fillers and carbs in them that dogs are constantly drinking water in excess – now my dog only drinks enough water that his body needs and he also has less of a need to urinate unlike when he was eating regular dog food. I also don’t understand why they put bouillon cubes and chicken broth on the list of healthy foods when it states not to give them things with salt. Bouillon cubes have a lot of salt as does broth unless you make it from scratch. Also my dog can eat raw fish but it has to be whole with the skin left on it. Bones should never be cooked if given to animals and never give them large bones that are weight baring such as the feemer bone. Is rice really that great? Rice isn’t a diet for dogs. Also bread – dogs don’t make bread in the wild. Also the wonderful thing about a raw food diet — my dog has the healthiest teeth ever – the vet and groomer never have to clean his teeth due to his diet. Although dogs that eat dog food – have dental problems a lot and their owners have to keep up on their dental health. Another great thing about the raw food diet – I haven’t had to treat my dog for fleas the moment I started it. Almost instantly he had no more issues with fleas but when I had been treating him if I was forgetful even a couple of days he would immediately get fleas. Now no more fleas!!!

me

My friend took her fur baby to a holistic animal doctor and she recommended a raw diet for Gracie and it helped for a time..

I just found out after a costly vet bill that my Border Collie has a very senstive belly and can’t digest any kinds of people food. He just spent 2 days in the hospital after eating a few cheerios with bloody diarrhea and a temp of 102.7 and wouldn’t eat nor drink anything. So as far as I am concerned he will never get any kind of human food again. Not saying it is bad but it is deadly for my dog. So I am just asking before you give your pet any kind of human food your not sure of please check with your vet before doing so.

trista

Hi i have an american bulldog and he wont dog food and now he wont eat people food what can i do i have tried everything is there anything else i can do

darshan

Hi I’m feeding curd for my labrador dog is it good for it plz reply?

my sick dog

my dog has been getting sick with in 15 mins after she eats her food. I switched her foods and still no difference I started giving her chicken broth and then chicken noodle soup. She held it down no problem I even gave her beef soup. She holds down all human food but not any kind of dog food. any ideas?

Molly Weems

Commercial dog food is crap…period! That’s why so many dogs wind up with stomach issues at the vet. Feed them home cooked sensible meals….I’ve been doing that for 25 years and have healthy dogs without tummy issues.

2crudedudes

Why do you assume that people that feed their dogs people food are only giving them scraps?

Good list of foods to give your dog. My dog always seems to love anything dairy like milk and ice cream but I will try to stick to yogurt.

Sid Debgupta

Oh please, fish ? My dogs love freshwater fish which is one of the healthiest things anyone can eat. Also why chicken without bones ? Remember the old game “dog and a bone” played by kids ? I know what will happen if I put a bone and an apple side by side in front of ANY dog.